TIGRE is a new robotic spectroscopy telescope located in central Mexico at the La Luz Observatory of the University of Guanajuato. The 1.2 m telescope is fiber-coupled to anéchelle spectrograph with a spectral resolving power exceeding 20 000 over most of the covered spectral range between 3800Å and 8800Å, with a small gap of 130Å around 5800 A. TIGRE operates robotically, i.e. it (normally) carries out all observations without any human intervention, including, in particular, the target selection in any given observing night. In this paper we describe the properties of the TIGRE instrumentation and its technical realization, as well as our first operational experience with the performance and efficiency of the overall system. Finally, we present some examples of recent TIGRE observations.

Context. Probing the structures of stellar winds is of prime importance for the understanding of massive stars. Based on their optical spectral morphology and variability, it has been suggested that the stars in the Oef class feature large-scale structures in their wind. Aims. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and time-series of X-ray observations of presumably single O-type stars can help us understand the physics of their stellar winds. Methods. We have collected XMM-Newton observations and coordinated optical spectroscopy of the O6 Ief star λ Cep to study its X-ray and optical variability and to analyse its high-resolution X-ray spectrum. We investigate the line profile variability of the He ii λ 4686 and Hα emission lines in our time series of optical spectra, including a search for periodicities. We further discuss the variability of the broadband X-ray flux and analyse the high-resolution spectrum of λ Cep using line-by-line fits as well as a code designed to fit the full high-resolution X-ray spectrum consistently.Results. During our observing campaign, the He ii λ 4686 line varies on a timescale of ∼18 h. On the contrary, the Hα line profile displays a modulation on a timescale of 4.1 days which is likely the rotation period of the star. The X-ray flux varies on timescales of days and could in fact be modulated by the same 4.1-day period as Hα, although both variations are shifted in phase. The highresolution X-ray spectrum reveals broad and skewed emission lines as expected for the X-ray emission from a distribution of windembedded shocks. Most of the X-ray emission arises within less than 2 R * above the photosphere. Conclusions. The properties of the X-ray emission of λ Cep generally agree with the expectations of the wind-embedded shock model. There is mounting evidence for the existence of large-scale structures that modulate the Hα line and about 10% of the X-ray emission of λ Cep.

Context. While the existence of stellar analogues of the 11 years solar activity cycle is proven for dozens of stars from optical observations of chromospheric activity, the observation of clearly cyclical coronal activity is still in its infancy. Aims. In this paper, long-term X-ray monitoring of the binary 61 Cygni is used to investigate possible coronal activity cycles in moderately active stars. Methods. We are monitoring both stellar components, a K5V (A) and a K7V (B) star, of 61 Cyg with XMM-Newton. The first four years of these observations are combined with ROSAT HRI observations of an earlier monitoring campaign. The X-ray light curves are compared with the long-term monitoring of chromospheric activity, as measured by the Mt.Wilson CaII H+K S -index. Results. Besides the observation of variability on short time scales, long-term variations of the X-ray activity are clearly present. For 61 Cyg A we find a coronal cycle which clearly reflects the well-known and distinct chromospheric activity cycle. The changes of coronal properties during the cycle resemble the solar behaviour. The coronal activity of 61 Cyg B also follows the chromospheric variability, although a pronounced sinusoidal chromospheric cycle of large amplitude is not noticeable. This is also reflected in the XMM-Newton observations with a rather complex long-term variability during that time. Conclusions. 61 Cyg A is the first star where a persistent coronal activity cycle has been observed.

Aims. The activity levels of the solar-twin candidates HD 101364 and HD 197027 are measured and compared with the Sun, the known solar twin 18 Sco, and the solar-like star 51 Peg. Furthermore, the absolute ages of these five objects are estimated from their positions in the HR diagram and the evolutionary (relative) age compared with their activity levels. Methods. To represent the activity level of these stars, the Mount Wilson S-indices were used. To obtain consistent ages and evolutionary advance on the main sequence, we used evolutionary tracks calculated with the Cambridge Stellar Evolution Code. Results. From our spectroscopic observations of HD 101364 and HD 197027 and based on the established calibration procedures, the respective Mount Wilson S-indices are determined. We find that the chromospheric activity of both stars is comparable with the present activity level of the Sun and that of 18 Sco, at least for the period in consideration. Furthermore, the absolute age of HD 101364, HD 197027, 51 Peg, and 18 Sco are found to be 7.2, 7.1, 6.1, and 5.1 Gyr, respectively. Conclusions. With the exception of 51 Peg, which has a significantly higher metallicity and a mass higher by about 10% than the Sun, the present Sun and its twins compare relatively well in their activity levels, even though the other twins are somewhat older. Even though 51 Peg has a similar age of 6.1 Gyr, this star is significantly less active. Only when we compare it on a relative age scale (which is about 20% shorter for 51 Peg than for the Sun in absolute terms) and use the higher-than-present long-term S MWO average of 0.18 for the Sun, does the S -index show a good correlation with evolutionary (relative) age. This shows that in the search for a suitably similar solar twin, the relative main-sequence age matters for obtaining a comparable activity level.

The Ca ii infrared triplet's performance as an activity indicator compared to Ca ii H and K Empirical relations to convert Ca ii infrared triplet measurements to common activity indices